San Blas is an archipelago of 378 smallish islands, home of the indigenous Kuna people, who were driven from the mainland during the Spanish invasion hundreds of years ago. In 1925 the Kuna fought Panama …
February 26, 2010
Go Abroad!
San Blas Islands, Panama
Puerto Montt, Chile: Fresh Seafood
Flapping fish tails, coiled seaweed, barnacles and octopus fresh from the Chilean coastal town of Puerto Montt will soon become part of our gastronomical lunch. At the southern end of the Pan American Highway – …
February 23, 2010
Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia
It is difficult to relate the absolute hysteria of Carnaval in Barranquilla. Most nations couldn't handle an equal event without soon collapsing into a frenzied state of all-out warfare. But Barranquilla does it, and does …
February 20, 2010
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Che Baludo!
I’d heard about Buenos Aires in the spring, but I was apprehensive about the winter. I packed my bags like I was getting ready to go snowboarding. Jackets, thermals and beanies. It being July and …
February 15, 2010
Medellin, Colombia, Encapsulated
Medellin, enchanted city, home of the silicon buttcheek, where no one remembers the natural light of stars and the sun has barely been named, where the Paisas wear their souls on their skin and old …
February 3, 2010
Drinks in Denver, New Zeeland
Dear Matt: I have some friends in Denver, and they keep wanting me to come visit. They say you can get drunk there faster and cheaper because of the altitude. I asked them why but …
January 27, 2010
Regal Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“If you have a problem that annoys you, then you have two problems. Knock one of them out.” This local man’s statement lived with me during the week I spent in Brazil’s second-largest city (and …
January 26, 2010
Modena, Italy: Balsamic Vinegar Heaven
A foodie just learning balsamic’s tasty lineage, I visited one of the many countryside balsamic vinegar producers while in Modena, Italy, home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites. In the nearby village of Sorbara, as …
January 26, 2010
Opa Hey!
With his goatee and hat, smoking a cig for all his photos, the intently hip Kottarashky, aka Nikola Gruev, is a Bulgarian architect by day. On this debut, he's mixed a compelling collage of his …
January 24, 2010
Rainforest in Ecuador: Misahuallí and Jatun Sacha
While visiting Ecuador, if you lack the time and/or money for a multi-day tour into the Amazon with a stay at a jungle lodge, you can still get a taste of the rainforest just five …
January 19, 2010
Time-traveling in Caribbean Guatemala
Caribbean Guatemala with Mayan ruins? You bet. Situated between Belize and Honduras, the short Caribbean coast of Guatemala displays a panoply of history and beauty. Starting from our cruise ship stop at Santo Tomas de …
January 14, 2010
The Balkans by Bus
"Just fly," my friends told me. "Or rent a car. The bus will take forever." The Balkan bus system is a confounding web of coaches and stations. Unlike in the U.S., there’s no equivalent to …
January 12, 2010
Christmas in Ecuador: The Casa de la Niñez Project
I had for months anticipated the opportunity to spend two weeks in Ecuador over the Christmas holidays. It is a country of incredible biodiversity and natural beauty. During my first week there, I volunteered at …
January 11, 2010
Undiscovered Piran, Slovenia
Majestic blue waters of the Adriatic Sea splash into the unassuming, picturesque coastal town of Piran, Slovenia. This aged European town on Slovenia’s small stretch of coastline has its own seaside, Mediterranean-like character – quiet …
January 6, 2010
Living Like a Local in Venice
My infatuation with the city of Venice could be considered the longest love affair of my life. It began when I was just a teenager; I arrived by train during my high school student exchange …
December 23, 2009